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Published: June 11th 2008
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Michelle in Sofia
This fountain was located in front of Parliament. You can also see that we hit some cold weather again. We're now in Sofia, after a 14 hour train. Nothing considering the past train trips we've done. It wasn't that great a city to arrive into as we got caught in some crazy rain; it just didn't stop hailing and after we waited for to stop for over half an hour in a bank there was only one to make a choice. Stephen was the one who paid for it the most; his pack got the wet right through. We seriously got drenched through our clothes and boots (they have taken two days to dry).
Our hostel is great - we get all you can eat breakfast and a bowl of pasta and a beer included in our room for 10 Euro. It's great, one of the best hostels we have ever stayed at and if you are ever in this part of the world a stay in the "Hostel Mostel" is very much recommended. It's also great to be able to try some new beers and with them being so cheap in Bulgaria, 0.75 Leva, or about 50 cents AUD for half a litre.
There isn't much to see in the city itself It has a nice side
and a poorer side (where the hostel is). We went to see a couple of churches and art galleries which are all in the nice side of town. The Alexander Nevsky cathedral was the pick of the bunch. We also had a look at a flea market with some really great old World War 2 items although they were all had Nazi insignia on them.
We also managed to walk past parliament just in time to see the changing of the guard, our thirds for the trip so far. It's interesting to see the different ways that each country does it but in Bulgaria it certainly isn't taken as seriously as Greece or Russia. The guards were singing and laughing at one point.
Stephen has also taken the rather rash decision to shave off his beard after over a month of growth. It took him a fair amount of time with just his disposable razor. It's nice to have my handsome husband back!
The second day we decided to head out to the Rila Monastery. It was about an hour and a half drive, into the mountains. It was beautiful country side and not so beautiful drive...
A Statue of St Sofia
St Sofia is obliviously the patron saint of Sofia but also has a statue in Koo Wee Rup. as usual our driver was a bit crazy.
For those who don't know (and let's face it who does) the Monastery of Saint John of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains, 117 km south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of 1,147 m above sea level. Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments. You would think it would be crowded and busy, but it really wasn't. It was pretty cold and we saw snow on the top of the mountains. They also had some amazing donuts, they were Bulgarian of course and covered with caramel sauce - they were good!
We head to Romania tomorrow on another overnight to go and hunt down Dracula.
Hope you're all well.
Speak to you soon.
Michelle and Stephen.
xoxoxo
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